# US 10,441,448 B2 · Flow regulation valve for controlling inflation rate of a balloon deploying a scaffold > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,448 B2 - Document ID: US10441448B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/015,945 - Filed: 2016-02-04 - Published: 2016-06-09 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-14 - Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. - Applicants: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc. - Inventors: Stephen D. Pacetti; Yunbing Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441448B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts - A61M 25/10184: {Means for controlling or monitoring inflation or deflation} - A61M 25/10185: {Valves} - A61M 25/104: {used for angioplasty} - A61M 39/24: Check- or non-return valves - A61M 5/16877: {Passive flow controllers; Devices for setting a flow rate (clamp-type valves A61M39/28)} - A61M 2039/2413: {designed to reduce and or shut-off the flow when a certain maximum flow limit is exceeded} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An apparatus and method for controlling inflation pressure, pressurization rate, and volumetric flow rate of a balloon during deployment of a stent or scaffold is disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flow regulator for regulating flow of an inflation fluid to a balloon catheter, comprising: a valve body enclosing a control chamber comprising a passageway for fluid flow, the valve body comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a distal flow orifice for connection with the balloon catheter, the proximal end having a proximal flow orifice for connection with a catheter in fluid communication with an inflation device; a slidable restrictor body positioned within the control chamber, the restrictor body comprising a distal end and an opening formed through the distal end to allow fluid flow distally or proximally through the restrictor body; and a valve seat positioned distal to the restrictor body comprising a valve seat orifice which allows fluid to flow out of the distal flow orifice, wherein the slidable restrictor body is operable to slide distally from a starting position to a stopped position in response to fluid flow in the distal direction toward the valve seat during inflation of the balloon, wherein as the distal end of the restrictor body approaches the valve seat, the distal end of the restrictor body and the valve seat cooperate to increase restriction to fluid flow which controls pressurization rate of the balloon to within a specified range, wherein when the restrictor body slides distally from the starting position to the stopped position at which the distal end of the restrictor body contacts the valve seat, the distal end of the restrictor body blocks a first portion of the valve seat orifice and does not block a second portion of the valve seat orifice to allow fluid flow through the opening formed through the distal end of the restrictor body, into the second portion of the valve seat orifice, and out the distal flow orifice, wherein a second opening is formed through the distal end of the restrictor body, wherein when the restrictor body slides distally from the starting position to the stopped position at which the distal end of the restrictor body contacts the valve seat, the distal end of the restrictor body blocks the first portion of the valve seat orifice and does not block a third portion of the valve seat orifice to allow fluid flow through the second opening formed through the distal end of the restrictor body and into the third portion of the valve seat orifice, and wherein the opening and the second opening formed through the distal end of the restrictor body are equidistant from a center of the distal end of the restrictor body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flow regulator of claim 1, further comprising a biasing element that applies a biasing force that opposes the distal sliding of the restrictor body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flow regulator of claim 1, wherein the restriction of fluid flow is at a maximum when the distal end of the restrictor body contacts the valve seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flow regulator of claim 1, wherein the slidable restrictor body is operable to slide proximally in response to fluid flow in the proximal direction during deflation of the balloon without increasing restriction of the proximal fluid flow. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flow regulator of claim 1, wherein each of the valve body and slidable restrictor body has a cylindrical cross section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flow regulator of claim 1, wherein each of the valve body and slidable restrictor body has a square or rectangular cross section. ### Claim 7 A flow regulator for regulating flow of an inflation fluid to a balloon catheter, comprising: a valve body enclosing a control chamber comprising a passageway for fluid flow; a distal end of the valve body with a distal flow orifice for connection with the balloon catheter, a proximal end of the valve body with a proximal flow orifice for connection with a catheter in fluid communication with an inflation device, a flexible restrictor membrane positioned within the control chamber comprising an opening which allows fluid to flow distally or proximally through the membrane; a valve seat positioned within the control chamber distal to the membrane comprising an opening for fluid to flow distally and proximally; wherein the membrane is operable to flex distally in response to fluid flow in the distal direction toward the valve seat during inflation of the balloon, wherein as the membrane flexes toward the valve seat restriction to fluid flow increases which controls pressurization rate of the balloon to within a specified range, wherein the valve seat comprises a plate fixed within a path of the fluid flow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The flow regulator of claim 7, wherein the membrane and valve seat are positioned so that as the membrane flexes toward a proximal surface of the plate, restriction of flow around the valve seat increases. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The flow regulator of claim 7, wherein the flexing membrane is operable to engage a proximal surface of the plate, resulting in a maximum restriction of fluid flow. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The flow regulator of claim 7, wherein the membrane is operable to flex proximally away from a proximal surface of the plate in response to fluid flow in the proximal direction during deflation of the balloon without an increase in restriction of the proximal fluid flow. ### Claim 11 A flow regulator for regulating flow of an inflation fluid to a balloon catheter, comprising: a valve body enclosing a control chamber comprising a passageway for fluid flow, the valve body comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a distal flow orifice for connection with the balloon catheter, the proximal end having a proximal flow orifice for connection with a catheter in fluid communication with an inflation device; a slidable restrictor body positioned within the control chamber, the restrictor body comprising a distal end and an opening formed through the distal end to allow fluid flow distally or proximally through the restrictor body; and a valve seat positioned distal to the restrictor body comprising a valve seat orifice which allows fluid to flow out of the distal flow orifice, wherein the slidable restrictor body is operable to slide distally from a starting position to a stopped position in response to fluid flow in the distal direction toward the valve seat during inflation of the balloon, wherein as the distal end of the restrictor body approaches the valve seat, the distal end of the restrictor body and the valve seat cooperate to increase restriction to fluid flow which controls pressurization rate of the balloon to within a specified range, wherein when the restrictor body slides distally from the starting position to the stopped position at which the distal end of the restrictor body contacts the valve seat, the distal end of the restrictor body blocks a first portion of the valve seat orifice and does not block a second portion of the valve seat orifice to allow fluid flow through the opening formed through the distal end of the restrictor body, into the second portion of the valve seat orifice, and out the distal flow orifice, wherein a second opening is formed through the distal end of the restrictor body, wherein when the restrictor body slides distally from the starting position to the stopped position at which the distal end of the restrictor body contacts the valve seat, the distal end of the restrictor body blocks the first portion of the valve seat orifice and does not block a third portion of the valve seat orifice to allow fluid flow through the second opening formed through the distal end of the restrictor body and into the third portion of the valve seat orifice, and wherein a section of the distal end of the restrictor body is disposed between the opening and the second opening formed through the distal end of the restrictor body, wherein when the restrictor body slides distally from the starting position to the stopped position at which the distal end of the restrictor body contacts the valve seat, the section of the distal end of the restrictor body blocks the first portion of the valve seat orifice and does not block the second and third portions of the valve seat orifice.